The Biggest Meeting Happened in the Big Apple

In addition to sociologist attendees, the 102nd ASA Annual Meeting drew record-breaking media numbers in New York City

by Sujata Sinha and Johanna Olexy, ASA Public Information Office

“It couldn’t have happened anywhere but in little old New York.” ~ O. Henry

By all measures, the 2007 American Sociological Association Annual Meeting was a huge triumph. In the city that never sleeps the sessions never stopped and neither did attendance. With registration for the ASA Annual Meeting in New York at an all-time high, the numbers speak for themselves. When registration closed on August 14, attendee numbers were at 6,025, setting a new record and breaking the 6,000 mark for the first time in the Association’s 102-year history. The second largest meeting was the 2004 Annual Meeting in San Francisco where the attendance was about 5,600. With guests and exhibitors added in, on-site attendance at the meeting soared to more than 7,000.

Of course, as researchers know, numbers alone do not tell the whole story. The theme, “Is Another World Possible?,” was both exciting and relevant, which contributed to the large attendance. The plenaries drew in speakers on a variety of topics—from visions of economic globalism and the future of American politics to the critique of popular culture and the erosion of American democracy.

Lights! Camera! Sociology!

Attendance in New York broke records across the board, including media attendance. ASA attendees may have seen more red on name badges at this year’s Annual Meeting (journalists attending the meeting were identifi- able by their red “Press” ribbons). That is because more than 30 print and broadcast journalists covered the 102nd Annual Meeting resulting in positive television, print, and radio news coverage throughout the meeting. If past media coverage is any indication, coverage will continue as reporters tap their new-found sociology contacts and refer to their notes for research topics. While acquiring a precise count of the coverage of sessions and papers at the meeting is difficult, ASA had identified several dozen by the end of the meeting.

Sociologists were heard on New York City’s WBAI Radio. President Frances Piven was interviewed on Bill DiFazio’s City Watch show on August 8. Past- President Troy Duster was a guest on the station’s Equal Time for Free Thought show on August 12 where he discussed sociology as a science. Sally O’Brien from WBAI’s monthly magazine show Cuba on Focus, covered the panel “The Future of Cuba,” which aired on August 27, 2007. The producers look forward to future interview opportunities with sociologists.

Tackling the Controversial

Among the extensive press coverage of the meeting, InsideHigherEd. com, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Democracy Now covered the U.S. government’s denial of South African scholar Adam Habib’s entry visa, which prevented him from speaking at the Annual Meeting. Inside Higher Ed also reported on several sessions, including the session on “Challenges Facing Sexualities Researchers”; the Presidential panel, “Academic Freedom Under Attack”; and the workshop on “Guidelines for Tenure and Promotion Reviews of Public Sociology.” The Chronicle of Higher Education also published an article on ASA President Frances Fox Piven’s Presidential Address, “Can Power from Below Change the World?”

Local print media left their stamp on the meeting. Gary Shapiro from The New York Sun wrote a piece on the panel, “Why Did Crime Decline in New York City?” and Albor Ruiz from The New York Daily News covered “The Future of Cuba.”

Plenaries and Beyond

International broadcast media covered two plenary sessions. The New Tang Dynasty Network, a global news channel that broadcasts to 200 million Chinese viewers, covered former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos’ plenary on “Democratic Transition: The Example of Chile.” They also interviewed incoming President Arne Kalleberg on his upcoming trip to China. In addition, Radio Free Asia covered Congressman John Conyers’ plenary on “The Future of American Politics,” and Democracy Now covered Naomi Klein’s plenary “Competing Paths to Another World: Strategies and Visions.”

In addition to the sessions and plenaries, several papers presented at the meeting received a variety of press coverage. Several media, including the wire service Health Day News, The Washington Post, and Forbes.com, reported on Scott Akins’ (Oregon State University) paper, “The Effect of Linguistic Isolation on Hispanic Substance Use in Washington State.” Paul von Hippel’s (Ohio State University) paper, “What Happens to Summer Learning in a Year-Round School Year?” was covered by United Press International and CTV, Canada.

Other media in attendance were four reporters and a photographer from The New York Timesand journalists from Live Science, Self Magazine, Time Magazine, Conde Nast Portfolio, EFE Spanish News Services, ShelterForce, Science magazine, El Economista, Commonwealth News Network, Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science, and Forbes magazine.

Looking Ahead

The glorious success of the meetings was in large part due to the diverse research presented and the planning by ASA President Frances Fox Piven and the members of the 2007 Program Committee. They, as well as section chairs and session organizers, deserve congratulations on their excellent work in planning this year’s program. Also, congratulations are due to the ASA staff for planning an efficient and organized meeting. The ASA looks forward to making the 2008 meeting an even greater overall success.